Sixteen governments have indicated willingness to participate in an international conference for the drafting of an international convention to reduce or eliminate future statelessness, the Agudas Israel World Organization was informed today. Among the 16 nations which would come to the parley, whose site and opening date would be set by this year’s United Nations General Assembly, are Israel, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands and Spain.
The Agudah, which has long been concerned about the problem of statelessness has also been informed that West Germany has advised the Council of Europe that it is prepared to waive unilaterally visa requirements for persons holding refugee travel documents.
The Agudah has asked the Council of Europe that similar facilities be afforded by all member states of the Council. This would give stateless persons and refugees with resident status in one country or another, the same right to travel without a visa between those countries which do not require travel documents of each others nationals.
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